Arguably America's most profound cultural contribution, jazz has evolved for over a hundred years since its birth in the ethnic gumbo of New Orleans at the dawn of the 20th century. This elegant volume presents a portrait gallery of 50 eminent musical legends, from Jelly Roll Morton, perhaps the inventor of the art form, to contemporary axman Joe Lovano, who contributes a foreword. Each figure is featured in handsome vintage photographs and a pithy, revealing biography.Portraits include:Louis Armstrong  *  Sidney Bechet  *  Bix Beiderbecke  *  Duke Ellington  *  Fats Waller  * Benny Goodman  *  Billie Holliday  *  Charlie Parker  *  Dizzy Gillespie  *  Thelonious Monk  *  Sarah Vaughn  * Miles Davis  *  John Coltrane  *   Chet Baker  *  Wynton Marsalis  *  and many more!    .
